Random Access

Saturday – 07 April 2007
Trying out Axis & Allies: War at Sea yesterday was fun. I played an Allied fleet, comprised of:

• HMS Rodney
• USS Baltimore (as if I was going to let that opportunity pass…)
• HMS Javelin
• F4F Wildcats (2)

Chris used a mixed Axis fleet, with four ships and a squadron of planes. We didn’t fight a historical battle, instead we fought for three objective points. I took out his planes, which happened to be bombers, in my first attack. He retaliated by taking out the Baltimore and Javelin in his next couple attacks. That’s not what one would consider a very auspicious start… even for a beginner. I was left with the Rodney and the planes. Against a battleship, a cruiser, an aircraft carrier, and a destroyer (I think). The carrier couldn’t really do any damage to me, so it was a bit of a non-factor. The rest of the fleet could be… troublesome. Fortunately, I the Luck Lords of Ventura were apparently with me: I wound up destroying the three main ships while his carrier hid behind an island.

Clitorati was good. I couldn’t get my head into drawing last night, so it was all about the socializing. Both and Ms. onlyaly made quote-worthy comments. I don’t think I’ll post the former… and I can’t remember the latter.  The crossword in this week’s City Weekly gave me a bit of a problem.  More specifically, the clue “donut like” was the primary antagonist.  I couldn’t figure out what 7-letter answer they wanted.   I had “OS_APED” staring me in the face for the longest time before I sussed out that it was supposed to be “OSHAPED.”  As in “O-shaped.”  As in “shaped like an O,” which most donuts are.  *sigh*  I’m a genius.
Last night, after Clitorati and trying to play a little CoH (detailed below), I hit the rack around… 1:30 or 2:00. And was awake at 4-something. And 7:00. Sharp. And a little after 8:00. And a little before 9:00. I hope that’s not an augury of how the rest of the day is going to be.

This morning, I watched the rebroadcast of “Lightning Storm” on today’s Legion of Super Heroes. I noticed something in the Legion tryouts that I had missed the first time: Fire Lad, Polar Boy and Night Girl – all members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes – were there.

And in a couple of other Legion-related items, : Click here and here.
The Scales of Justice
After getting home last night, I decided to go on patrol in Paragon City. I joined a team with a couple members of my Super Group and we took on The Freakshow. It was a little tough, we could have used some backup… but we did alright.

Until we got to the second floor of the building.

Then, two things happened:

1. We started getting our butts kicked. Repeatedly. Badly. Painfully.
2. Two of us started nodding off… in the middle of fights.

That’s not exactly a good combination. So, we scrubbed the mission. And I went to bed.

Stray Toasters

• I should really give serious consideration to getting dressed and getting something to eat.  Maybe even in that order.  Maybe not.  *shrug*
• Cyanide and Happiness – a webcomic from Explosm.net
• 
• The Codpiece of Terror!!!
• Sent to me by coworker Matt: My Humps… as done by Alanis Morrisette
• In case you haven’t heard of this already: House Ransacked After Craigslist Hoax
• 
• The Webcomic List
• From Broken Frontier: Webcomics Review: Sinfest
  
  (click image for the full strip)
• Microsoft dropping DRM from Zune Music Store
• They’re talking about Jurassic Park 4?  As if we needed another one.

Time to go play in the sunshine for a bit.  Or something like that.

Namaste.

Friday – 06 April 2007
Today’s been good. A cup of frozen mocha goodness in hand, I raced the monkeys to A.F. They weren’t too badly behaved, either. Of course, I had the help of a good driving soundtrack to distract me. The morning was low-key and quiet… just right for a Friday morning.

We just finished a team-building exercise. Quake III. Eight players. Lots of weaponry. Lots of (virtual) running around. It was fun. This may have to become an irregular regular Friday lunchtime feature.

After work, I’m heading over to Chris’ to check out Axis & Allies: War at Sea before heading to Clitorati.

Stray Toasters

• I neglected to mention that I picked up 24: Season Two a few nights ago. $20 USD. Unfortunately, none of the other seasons were similarly marked down.
• Prices for ‘.com’ and ‘.net’ will rise
• I watched The Call of Cthulhu the other day. It was modern silent movie, made to look and feel like it had been made in the 20s. It did a good job of evoking the feel of the times, too.
• Opticon (live)
• Not just a new Hall of Justice…
  
  (larger images: 1, 2)

  …but a new Watchtower, too…
  

  

• Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
  Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake it all the time
  Work, work, work, Senora, work your body line
  Work, work, work, Senora, work it all the time
• By way of Derek: Origins of Rock Band Names
• Echo-X: The artwork of Echo Chernik

Namaste.

Wednesday – 28 March 2007
Two-and-a-half down…
Two-and-a-half to go.
The back half of yesterday’s work day was decent. Post-work, I stopped off for coffee and drawing time; the new drawing is coming along… slowly, but there is progress being made.    called and asked if I had any plans for dinner; I didn’t. She suggested Macaroni Grill. How could I refuse? I mean, after all, it’s a restaurant where you can draw on the tables! I was in. Dinner was good and I had enough leftovers to constitute a decent lunch. Unfortunately, they are still in my refrigerator. *facepalm* Oh, well… if nothing else, I can have them for a tasty dinner tonight. Finished off the last two episodes of The West Wing‘s first season, last night, too. I need to find Season 2. And 3. And… well, you get the idea. But, I don’t really want to kick out $300 for the seven-season box set.

This morning, I woke to snow. Yay. Fortunately, it wasn’t cold enough for it to stick to the roads… but that didn’t stop the road monkeys from driving as though it was a natural disaster.  (Packed like lemmings into shiny, metal boxes…)  At one point, there was a lady driving down I-15 with a LOT of traffic stacked up behind her: because she was going about 50 down the center lane. The road was wet. Barely. And she was doing 50. And white-knuckling the steering wheel. I simply listened to Carnival (*shakes fist at ) and then to the first half of Hold Your Fire and cruised into the office.

The work day hasn’t been bad. So far. I’ve had a couple of brushfires to deal with, but n-n-n-nothing too serious. (Lookit that: I snuck in an Icehouse reference. Go me. I rock.) And, I should be able to ease on down the road around 4:30, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

Stray Toasters

• I still crave Krimpets of Butterscotch.  And Phillip’s crab cakes.
• Nyx and m3lodywise:  Check out this tattoo.
• If you’re very very quiet
  And you do not make a sound
  I’ll share a little secret
  That seems a bit profound
  Each thought that is imagined
  Gains a life its own
  And drifts into reality
  Looking for its home
• Snow.  *shakes head*
• Micro$quat has announced the Xbox 360 Elite.  Does this mean that somewhere down the road we’re going to see the Xbox 360 Grunt, Xbox 360 Hunter, Xbox 360 Jackal (They called him ‘The Jackal’…) and Xbox 360 Flood?
• It’s a great big universe
  And we’re all really puny…
  But these things are smaller still.
• Dr. Blair and the 10¢ plan.
• Synchronicity II
• Mr. Murdock looks like he’s about to whoop some ass.
• I don’t have anything to add here, so come up with your own punchline: Hotmail users deemed too dumb for employment at firm.
• Great monkey-squeezin’ Jesus… I haven’t seen this video in YEARS!
• Which Philip K. Dick story are we living in today?

Quote of the Day

[13:14] Sarah: have you seen the new Trix?
[13:14] ShadorunrWORK: Nuh-uh.
[13:14] Sarah: they are…. wait for it
[13:14] Sarah: NEW SHAPE:  ROUND
[13:14] Sarah: …
[13:14] ShadorunrWORK: Wait…
[13:14] Sarah: uh huh
[13:14] ShadorunrWORK: Weren’t Trix round when we were kids?
[13:14] Sarah: yup
[13:14] ShadorunrWORK: >.< [13:14] ShadorunrWORK: So "new hotness" Trix is really "old busted" Trix? [13:15] Sarah: and then they went all weird and made them "fruit shaped"... a lot like runts... and now...WOW!  ROUND!  UGH!

“That’s the thing about birthdays and Quik (and, apparently, lunch hours…), they go by so fast.”

Namaste.

Tuesday – 27 March 2007
One down, one in the chamber and three to go.

So far, the day’s been decent.  The road monkeys weren’t unbearable this morning, as they swung from branch to branch… I mean “lane to lane.”  For the most part, traffic flowed nicely.  I have coffee.  And there was apparently an IT task that was assigned that neither I nor our office director knew nothing about.  Greeeat.  Fortunately, it’s not a huge deal, but when I asked him about it, he had the same deer in headlights look that I had when I was originally asked about it; that made me feel a little better.  Oh, well.

Last night, we were supposed to shoehorn in a D&D session.  But, we didn’t.  So, I watched a few episodes of Justice League – including one from the second season that I had somehow neglected to watch! – and played some online poker…. until it was time for 24.  While not as amusing as 24: ATHF, it was still good.  Then, some online poker.  I also watched The Guardian – it wasn’t a horrible movie.  Near its end, I half-expected Whitney Houston to show up and sing I Will Always Love You.  Of course, when I first heard about the movie, I had the not-so-serious urge to photoshop her into a copy of the movie poster and retitle it The BodyGuardian.  Go figure.
Stray Toasters

• I have a slice of frosted carrot cake.
• I like Gwen Stefani’s new song, The Sweet Escape.  It’s bouncy and catchy.
• Ever have one of “those” days?  I get the feeling he has.  In fact, I’d say that he’s having one now…
  
  (click image for preview of Green Lantern #18)
• loves me.  How do I know?  Because she sent me a link (no pun intended) to this.
• Super Mario Brothers… done with LEGO bricks and figures.
• …and while on the subject: LEGO Batman Videogame in 2008
• Square Peg.  *sigh*
• The Pursuit of Happyness (not misspelled, thank you) is out on DVD today.  If you haven’t seen this movie, now is your chance to do so.  It’s a great story.
• Create a mascot for a Woot sports team
• This sounds suspiciously like a certain (non-IT) job I had not too long ago…
  
• It’s more than “a little” geeky, but I like this doormat.

Quote of the Day

[09:00] : eh!
[09:00] Scott: sup
[09:01] : Thought that this might amuse you:
[09:01] : ‘The Transformers’ appear on the internet’s worst website
[09:01] Scott: eh?
[09:01] : http://www.comics2film.com/
[09:01] : second item in “The Latest News”
[09:02] Scott: hahahahahahah oh god.
[09:02] Scott: Do we get Optimus Prime’s blog?
[09:03] : bwahahahaha
[09:04] : “Dear Diary:  Today, I got my oil changed.    There was a very cute Nissan Xterra there.  Red.  With racing stripes.   She was hawt!”

Namaste.

I just found a link to the video for emmet swimming’s Arlington.

Not bad for a Monday lunchtime.

Enjoy!

Sunday – 25 March 2007
Another weekend comes to a close. It’s been a good weekend, quiet and low-key. I had given some rather serious thought to a road trip (of sorts) this weekend, but opted to wait a while.

Saturday started with the Legion, found me in Park City in the afternoon and ended with episodes of The West Wing and late-night breakfast. One of the episodes was “Six Meetings Before Breakfast.” The title triggered a memory waaay back in the deep, dark recesses of my mind… but I couldn’t figure out why until I looked at the chapter listing: It was the episode in which Allison Janney’s character, C.J., did a lip-synch of The Jackal. For some reason, I didn’t think that happened until Season 2 or 3; I was quite pleased to find out that I was wrong. Quite pleased, indeed.
Today was rather mellow, as well. I started off with a trip to Paragon City with Nefer-Tem. I joined a team and put on… a level and a half, possibly a little more than that. After that, I hung out with at Borders and did some drawing. Actually, today was more “doodling” than anything, but I finally figured out how I want my next lyrics-to-drawing piece to look. I did the rough sketch for it and I’m pretty jazzed about working out the details.

After Borders, we decided to catch a movie: Reign Over Me, starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle. There were also a number of other fairly well-known faces/names in the movie, including Donald Sutherland and Robert Klein. I’m not a huge fan of Adam Sandler; I’ve found him to be intermittently funny, but his name in movie credits isn’t an automatic draw for me. In this role, however, I think that he did an amazing job. Don Cheadle, as usual, put in an excellent performance, as well. This wasn’t necessarily an “easy” movie to watch, but it was well worth seeing. The movie started out with a song by Graham Nash, Simple Man; I don’t think that I had heard it before tonight, but I like it.  And, as one might infer from the movie’s title, the movie featured a couple of versions of The Who’s Love Reign O’er Me, a favorite of mine.  I highly recommend the movie.

Stray Toasters

• I was talking with someone about Phillip’s earlier today… and I’ve been craving their crab cakes ever since.
• Dinosaur
• “Say, who do you think would win in a fight? The Ninja Turtles or the Power Rangers?”
  
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?” file: Chinese burn Viagra replicas for randy ancestors
• Each life has its place…
• , there are a few cameos at the end of Justice Society of America #4 that might interest you.
• The Year Without Toilet Paper
• Wizard’s Eighth Rule
• Shade, the Changing Man
• Because it’s been a while since I linked it: Rollin’ with Saget
• It looks as though Hugo Weaving may be providing the voice of Megatron in the upcoming Transformers movie.

Namaste.

Monday
This morning, I woke up from the singularly most bizarre dream that I can remember in a very long time. I was in a Buffy-like setting (even more weird since I wasn’t a fan of the show) and running from… something. Apparently, someone had cast a curse and I was caught in the effect. It was Medusa-like spell. Except that instead of the snakes growing from my head, they kept coming out of my right arm, either from the inside of my wrist or the palm of my hand (similar to the way that Ron Weasley kept spitting up slugs in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). And they kept coming. And coming. And coming. It was very disconcerting. What woke me up was when I tried to stop more snakes from exiting and one slithered up my arm, towards my face. I woke with a jump and a bit of a yell, I think. In the words of Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. (better known to his associates as “Indy”): Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?

The rest of the day was mercifully less stressful. It included calls from Bret, Adam and my father. It will be good to see them next week.

And tonight: Poker!

::: fast- forward :::

, and came over for poker. had to bail early. brought electronic crack HALO 2. *covet* It’s another definite “buy” for me. Tonight’s poker rankings:

1. Me.

Stray Toasters

• Many of you are familiar with the Penny Arcade webcomic. Last year, the strip’s creators came up with the idea for Child’s Play, a charity that donated $250,000 in toys and money to Seattle Children’s Hospital. This year, they are expanding to Children’s Hospitals across the country. Check it out and pass it on.
• I was chatting with my brother-in-law-to-be, , this afternoon when he forwarded the URL to “MoveThemOn.org – Real Democracy in Action.” It made me laugh.
• From an IRC conversation: Rate My Network Diagram
• John Schneider was being interviewed about Smallville the changes in this season’s storyline following the death of Christopher Reeve. He was also asked if he had been approached for a role in the upcoming Superman movie. (He hasn’t.) Then, the interviewer asked if he would be appearing in the upcoming The Dukes of Hazzard movie. He laughed and responded: “I wouldn’t drive in that movie in your car.”
• Harry Lampert, co-creator of The Flash, died Saturday. Even though he retired in 1980, he still made appearances at comics conventions.
• Nat King Cole. Unforgettable. *nod*
• “Do you think that Sims feel pain?”
  
• : Guess who’s on the cover of the third issue of the new LSH. And, as an added bonus: This.
• By way of Slashdot: Atlantis found. Again.
• On Wookiees and nudity taboos…
• Firestorm vs… Firestorm? But, isn’t he supposed to be dead. Firestorm, I mean. Well, that Firestorm.
• Biz Markie’s Just a Friend just rolled around on the Winamp’s random play. The first thing that popped into my head was last year’s Pepsi commercial that used it.
• : For you
• “Hi! I’d like some meatloaf!”
  
• : Click here.

Namaste.